Ontario Guild of English Handbell Ringers/Trillium Release Event
Over the last two years the Ontario Guild of English Handbell Ringers (OGEHR) have been working on a project funded by the Ontario Trillium foundation. Our own Jubilate Bells are members of the guild and two local groups have benefitted from this project.
Lester B Pearson School for the Arts were directly involved in the project and recorded their individual performance for the workshop in the sanctuary at Metropolitan. As well, some of the members from the St. Thomas Youth Choir and Children's Choir were present for an OGEHR sponcered workshop and the project release event held on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at Metropolitan!
Media Release January 13, 2024
Students “chiming in” thanks to $41,300 OTF grant that delivered a unique music program
London, ON: On Saturday, MPP Terrence Kernaghan met with representatives from the Ontario Guild of English Handbell Ringers (OGEHR) as they were doing a workshop for students from a number of schools learning how to play hand chimes. This workshop was part of a larger program that’s taken place in six areas of the province thanks to a $41,300 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) that was awarded in 2022. Over the course of nearly two years, young people were given the opportunity to join in either through virtual workshops and take part with in-person performances.
"I'm thrilled to learn that the Ontario Guild of English Handbell Ringers received this well-deserved grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation's Resilient Communities Fund,” said Terence Kernaghan, MPP for London North Centre. “This grant has helped them host an exciting hybrid in-person and virtual program that has benefitted young people and our wonderful broader arts community in London, as well as other communities across the province. Congratulations OGEHR!"
Nearly all of the groups involved in this initiative were students. There are very few handbell and hand chime programs in schools, so the project provided young people with an incredibly unique opportunity to learn something new. Funds from the grant were used to buy a series of chimes and sheet music for the learning sessions, as well as renting performance spaces in six communities, and helping with online licenses and some staffing costs. Experienced handbell musicians took part in teaching young people how to play these uncommon instruments in six communities across the province over the course of the grant.
“It is fantastic that our lives seem to finally be getting back to normal, and that our kids can again enjoy the experiences that all children should have,” said Rob Cairns, Vice-President, OGEHR.
Videos from the grant project are available on YouTube: Full workshop and performance video (75 minutes) - https://youtu.be/YGJYqnfED_o or you can view a performance video featuring two groups (3 minutes) - https://youtu.be/p2tlyH36Tnk
The Ontario Trillium Foundation’s (OTF) mission is to build healthy and vibrant communities across Ontario. As an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations, last year, OTF invested over $110M into 1,022 community projects and partnerships. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
Below is the video shown at the release event with two of the project's participating groups.
Lester B. Pearson School for the Arts & St. Brides Handbell Choir
